In the week ending Oct. 1, there were 344 deaths in the state. 20.6% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 19.5% were from cancer and 11.9% were from COVID-19.
Studies show doctors and medical examiners may underreport Alzheimer's disease and dementia-related conditions as the underlying cause of death on death certificates, according to the National Institute on Aging.
Once infected, older adults with dementia are likely to develop a more severe and dangerous illness. The diseases which make an older adult more vulnerable to COVID-19 are age-associated chronic conditions, according to the Bright Focus Foundation.
West Virginia top 10 causes of death in week ending Oct. 1
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 71 | 20.6 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 67 | 19.5 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 23 | 6.7 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 19 | 5.5 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 18 | 5.2 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 17 | 4.9 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 15 | 4.4 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 10 | 2.9 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | < 10 | < 2.9 |
| Alzheimer's disease | < 10 | < 2.9 |
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